Downtime rules

[Rule Hound]

Here is the format that all down times are converted to for us and for you. We record the details and results on our own board. If it is a action that is clear the results will be listed when sent to you. If it is information or clues that need to remain private until you win then it will just say information or some such. Which will be sent out after we receive the tests and requirements are filled.

Multiple characters can participate. Either through using their skill for you or by directly being a part and having this be their down time also.

If a objective is to complex to complete in one downtime we will let you know and you will get information or a clue that you can follow up on latter or sell to someone else to chase. Thus breaking it into multiple scenario's. There are no more complex or heroic specifications. If you want to do something complex it just takes more down times with a result/gain for each and every one completed. So you can have some heroic personal story line and chase it when you have spare down time actions.

first scenario might be to travel to a distant town, gain local lore concerning a banshee in the hills to the east, gain a map of the area. Lear what she can do...
Next Scenario might be to gather supplies and mountain ponies, hire a guide, seek out her valley and search it to find her lair so you can confront her. Beat her up, Among the loot and the lost wand you were seeking find a old journal that tells of a lost treasure somewhere else. (possible 3rd quest or something to sell to someone else....)

Downtime 1 (participants:         )
2 sentence description of quest/objective. +1 sentence per addition character participating.

Difficulty: 1-5

Requirements

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Result on Win:

• Success if direct result
• Information...

Bonus test:
outright win - An added bonus. Extra information, an extra clue, perhaps completely unrelated like encountering a messenger or overseeing someone else doing something.

Penalty options for failing quest test (base option, may be modified depending on what is being tried)

• Gaining 1 Beast Trait
  
• Down 2 pts of blood
  
• Gaining a Derangement for the game (or 2 derangement traits if you have one – ST discretion)
• Gaining 1 Derangement Trait (if you have a derangement)
  
• Losing 15 minutes of game time
  (Due to entering a fugue/vision state - ST's will tell you when it happens)
• Taking 3 points of lethal damage
  
• Down 1 Willpower
  
• Taking 1 points of Aggravated Damage
  
• Influence reduced by 1 until you perform a trivial favor for your influence
  
• Only acquire enough components for 2 rituals not 3 (only if this is your quest)
  
• Minus 2 penalty to one attribute for 1 game

I will send you an email asking for 5 tests to start and how you plan to meet the requirements.

If you Win the test you get the results. (then I check for bonus information)
If you tie you choose one penalty from list that you come into game with then I check next result/test.
If you loose outright you are down a willpower and must choose 1 penalty from list that you come into game with, then I check next result/test.
Repeat until you win. (you always get a chance at the bonus information)

I use a random test generator for the ST tests and try to have them recorded when possible, before you send me your results.

If you outright loose more than once I will ask before you spend the second/third/fourth... willpower if you wish to continue. If you choose to not continue your result is failed, nothing gained. And you suffer all the accrued penalties (except the last willpower that you chose not to expend).

Whether you win or give up YOU get to write a cool story about what happened (how you achieved your goal and/or any penalties you accrued in the course of trying). Barring infringing on a Story line or accidentally giving your character a crazy benefit (like rescuing the Pope's right hand man from an ambush) you are good to go. If appropriate we will post a little about it on the board in the "Hear Ye, Hear Ye" section but as for the rest you get a great character story and can share it at game or not at all.

Lastly, EVERY person contributing a downtime to the quest suffers the penalties. Only one set of tests is done so designate the person who is in charge of throwing the tests.

[Rule Hound]

The ONLY way to get additional downtime actions is by buying retainers at lvl 3 or higher. Retainers are possible requirements for some down time actions also and may have to spent their own down time assisting.

Retainer x 1/2
They can add skills and to the effectiveness of your own downtime actions but they do not gain a downtime of their own.

Retainer x 3+
Gain one downtime of their own.
A 3 dot retainer is considered skilled enough to use as your downtime tithe to your Liege. Test pool is base 6, +5 in their specializations so as good as or better than the average Cainite (in some areas)
Unless, your Liege has a specific task that would require your personal attention you can just grant them the use of your Retainer 3+ as your service (thus freeing up another personal action)


Services to your Liege
These are to better your domain unless requested otherwise by your Liege. So if they do not specify something specifically I suggest spending it into doing something to boost a domain stat.

Boosting Domain Stats
These can be boosted directly and temporarily for a year with a downtime action.

OR, they can be boosted permanently by adding something to the domain (building, aqueduct, gladiator arena, roads... if you can convince me that something you want to do will permanently add to the domain the I am all for it). There is generally no temporary short term boost but the result after spending several down times/years building or improving then you get a permanent bonus once it is complete and all scenario's are done.

[Rule Hound]

About the cool story

Some people may and some people may not wish to write a little story to describe how they feel their character accomplished their goal and the obstacles and challenges overcome to do it. It is up to you if you want to or not.

Here are some of the Pro's
I record these with the down times on the ST board. Think how cool it will be to be able to look back in 6 months or a year of what your character's story has been.
It helps our characters develop and we as LARPers grow and get a deeper understanding of what drives our characters making them more real in play and more exciting for others to interact with.
You get a cool tale of the dangers you faced, the scars you bear when you go to next court. Something in your arsenal to talk about with other characters if you hit a lull in the action.
Then there is the tangible benefit. I mentioned character development and growth. As players develop their character it makes them funner to interact with. We reward players with xp when we see them putting the effort in to grow as a player and to develop their characters, fleshing them out, and bringing them from some numbers on a sheet to something that is more alive and interactive.

[Rule Hound]

Due dates and downtimes
Action 1) Due by end (Sunday) of 1st week after game. We will have these back by Wednesday the following week.
Action 2) Due by end (Sunday) of second week (we may modify this slightly depending on how long it takes us to get out the first downtime actions - if we do we will post new due date on board). We will have these back by Friday of the 3rd week after game.

Additional actions - Retainers at lvl 3 or above. These can be turned in with Action 1 or Action 2.

Actions not received by due dates will be lost. We are trying to co-ordinate the cross over of actions between players and include aspects of either main storyline, personal storyline. Also, we need to then incorporate the actions into our stories, determine how they affect things and replan/design where needed.

Submitting
When sending in downtime actions please send the 1-2 sentence description of what your goal is and what you wish to accomplish. List any relevant skills, disciplines, or resources (retainer...) that you feel will help you accomplish your goal.

Send 5-6 tests with your submission (paper/rock/scissors)

Please choose any penalties from the side-effects/penalty list and send them in promptly as they may affect your second downtime.

[Rule Hound]

Thoughts on Downtime actions
We strongly suggest determining what your Domain Downtime will be at game or as soon as possible. If you are stuck for time on what you want to do for your first action then you will be ready to send it in. The Duke guides these for the Domain and should either know what he wants you to do specifically, or you can submit it as a general domain action. Their indecision should not penalize you. This is a service that is for your Duchy as decreed by the Ard Rhi, the Duke just guides how you will serve the Domain.

If you know what you want to do as a personal action and can submit it during the first week then do so, you never know what may pop up that the Duke may want. But Fealty goes both ways, they can not hold you hostage "just in case". Also, unless they need something very specific and request it, you can simply tell them your 3+ point retainer is performing your service to the Domain.

The Dukes and Barons have tithe boons on you if they want more than is their due. If your Duke needs your second down time then feel free to bargain, ask for boons for your extra services, again you are not their slave, they have obligations to you and to treat you fairly also. Or bargain for this to be counted as your next years service.

You are Vampires/predators of the highest order who ultimately (because of the beast inside you) is looking out for number 1. When you are offering your service/knowledge/skills or possibly your entire downtime depending, to another so they can complete their quest you are performing a service. The only way to ensure services rendered are paid back is through boons. Sly quid-pro-quo ambiguous deals are anathema to Cainite Society and most of your paths (as you are giving away potential power over others).

You can assume that every one of your characters at many points in their history have been burned by such deals, by those you thought you could trust. It may have just been inconvenient at the time to pay you back or they may have played you for a fool to get something out of you for free. In addition you can assume YOU/your character has done this to others in the past to some other Cainite that was to stupid not to take advantage of or perhaps you had every intention of paying them back but now you have moved so wount, or you had something you felt was more important so when they asked for your help you served you (no boon to force it right)

[Rule Hound]

Some confusion about downtime actions. We are updating what and how many. It is basically the same just re-worded to cover confusion.

Characters get 2 Downtime Actions. 1 personal, 1 Domain service.
Retainers (bought with xp only - this includes paragon retainers) of lvl 3 or higher get 1 downtime (and they can be used as your service, the Duke does not have a choice). They perform it with their skills but you get to decide what they try to do.

IF your Domain is Hosting gather everyone in your domain gets 1 bonus downtime (making it 3 personal).


Travel to and from gather is covered with the hand of hunger at game. This also covers multiple trips to and from the Shield of Safety when not in a time freeze for downtime actions. It does not cover traveling to another Dukedom between games.